Music and Subcultures; Indie
Indie music hit Britain in the early 21st century, with bands such as the Strokes and The Libertines. They gained a massive following and mass culture began to imitate their style. This can be seen through fashion, for example Kate Moss opening up a clothes line for the high street (and is even catering to large mens clothing now). She has been a large and influential celebrity through recent years, also having dated indie rockstar Pete Doherty has given her great ’indie'status. The status she has achieved and the consumerist society we live in today has been used to make a profit from this subculture.
This can also be seen in the influx and constant demand for retro clothes, for example the clothes store Beyond Retro. About five years ago before retro clothing was in vogue one could purchase a 1950’s style jacket for £20 however the same coat now is fetching up to £100. The shop, one of which is situated in very bohemian Brick Lane is now visited by the likes of Kate Moss, David Beckhamp and Kylie Minogue, giving the shop a new status amongst the public. This is a perfect example of recuperation and how authenticity is taken from todays subcultures
Another example that portrays how this popular culture has taken the masses by storm is looking at festivals in the UK and across Europe. In recent years festivals will sell out with in the first few minutes of tickets being up for sale. This never used to happen and unfortunately people take advantage of this - touts- those nasty people who buy massive amounts of tickets in order to re sell them at profitable price.
It may seem therefore that this youth sub culture is no longer a sub culture at all but has become a part of mass culture. Subcultures struggle in todays society to stay in the hands of a nieche audience.
August 31 2010 07:02 am | General